NEW YORK -- Jacob deGrom? will make at least one more rehab start before rejoining the Mets for his 2022 season debut.?

The Mets¡¯ ace will fly to New York and throw in a "work day" on Sunday, manager Buck Showalter said on Friday before the Mets' second-half opener against the Padres. After that, the Mets will decide where and when he makes his next rehab start.?

"The hope is that he makes a start after his work day and then we look to slot him in," Showalter said. "We'll see how everything goes. If he needs another one after that, then we'll do it."

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deGrom has been out with a stress reaction in his right scapula since Spring Training, threw 60 pitches across five innings during a simulated game in Port St. Lucie, Fla., on Thursday, bringing him to the brink of his 2022 debut.

MLB.com¡¯s Mets beat writer Anthony DiComo reported that deGrom was "feeling good after the outing," according to a team spokesman, easing concerns about deGrom¡¯s weekend setback.

On Sunday, deGrom reported experiencing soreness after throwing 42 pitches in an appearance with Triple-A Syracuse on July 14. The right-hander played catch on Monday and Tuesday without issue, but the team decided to push his simulated game from Tuesday to Thursday ¡°out of an abundance of caution.¡±

Showalter talked to deGrom on Friday, and deGrom said he was feeling good the day after his sim game. But the Mets want to make sure deGrom is built up enough to handle his normal workload when he returns to the big league rotation.?

"We've operated quite a while without him. We're looking forward to operating with him," Showalter said. "But when it happens, it happens. ¡­ We'll see where and when he pitches next, but it won't be for us in his next outing."

deGrom has not pitched in a big league game in more than a year due to various arm issues. Last year, deGrom missed the entire second half due to right elbow soreness. He has not appeared in a Major League game since July 7, 2021. During his three Minor League rehab starts this season, deGrom has thrown 8 2/3 scoreless innings and hit 100 mph on the radar gun.

¡°It hasn¡¯t been that much fun,¡± deGrom said after his outing on July 14. ¡°I¡¯m trying to stick to the process. I want to be up there helping the [Mets]. ¡­ With this injury, it was kind of cut and dry -- 'Hey, you¡¯ve got to take this amount of time and slowly work your way back.' It stinks being out, but getting close now, so [I¡¯m] definitely ready to be back up there.¡±

Even with one more rehab start coming, deGrom appears to be on the verge of joining the Mets for their playoff push.?

"I trust him. He knows when he's right. He knows what it takes to pitch up here," Showalter said. "And when it's time, he'll be here."